Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-30

Jr., collection date as far back as the fourth
century B. G. The one represents a woman
sucking an infant, the other female mu-
stefan asleep in chair, her tamborine at
her feet. Both are in highly-finished work
manship, and SO true to nature in every
detail, that 1t almost seems as if they
must have been executed from living
models. They are far above the average
artistic merit of Tanagra terra cottas.
Neither in the Boston Museum, nor in the
Metropolitan Museum of New York, both
OF which contain some specimens from
Tanagra. can their equal be found. Ii is
said that French enthusiast, some years
ago, gave six thousand francs (S1 ,200) for a
figurine not many inches in hight. If this
was the case, the figure thus highly
priced must have been of the same class
as the ones we have now under considera-
ton. Both of these bear evidence of hav-
ing once been colored slight traces of paint
being clearly visible. 1t is probable that
they have gained rather than lost in
beauty from The obliteration of the paint.
To what use, if any, they were put by
the ancients, or what purpose they served,
it is hard to tell. BY some it is asserted
that they served as models for life-size
marble figures; by others, on the contrary,
that they are reduced copies of statues fam
GUS in their time. But to both of these
theories it can be objected-where are the
statues? How is it that the stone has per-
ished while the clay remained? And,
again Why are these fgurines invariably
found in tombs? Another explanation is
that the fgurines WERE some of them,
used as ornaments, others as playthings
(for the inferior ones are very far from be-
ing ornamentaD, the larger and hand
somer pieces being used for interior deco
ration, those interior in quality and size
being toys for children. This sounds more
plausible. and is, possibly, the correct
theroy. Yet all those who have seen the
finer specimens will be inclined to attach
some deeper meaning. The fact of their
representing human figures, of no two be-
ing exactly alike, and of their being found
laid away with the dead, will certainly al
low of supposition that they were in
some way connected with the mortal re-
mains whose entombment they shared.
To go further than this must necessarily
be largely conjecture and yet as we look
at these two beautiful tigurines, we cannot
help applying to them some meaning.
Is it possible that the figure of the woman
sucking the child was placed in the tomb
of some mother whose life was lost in de-
votion to her last-born? l think it is pos
sible. And who shall say that the figure
Va VIZ SlSCpiiiE 10 hOS ~ PlSdl vi
her who in the same resting place lies
asleep
ADDITIONAL COLLECTIONS.
The Cesnola pottery from Cyprus, and
the collection of American mound relics,
are two very important collections that
have been purchased for the museum, but,
owing to lack of space, have not yet been
arranged for exhibition. The former COM
prise several hundred pieces of antique
pottery disinterred at Cyprus by General l..
z. di Cesnola, during his sojourn in that
island as American Consul. The Metro
politan Museum of New York purchased
General Cesnola's entire collection, but it
was found that many of the specimens
were duplicated, and as but one sample of
each was wanted for the New York Mu-
scum, the duplicates were offered for sale
Governor Stanford secured them for $40, 900.
They are mostly earthenware amphorie.
jars, bowls, and cups of many shapes
plain and monumental, though some
show traces of color. 1t is evident that the
majority were utensils for domestic use.
The collection of American mound relics
was purchased by Mrs. Stanford at the
New Orleans Exhibition in 1885. The
specimens are chiefly from Illinois, Mis-
souri, and Kansas They were col
lected by Mr.. William McAdams of
Alton, ILL.,, who spent several years in the
work, and who has given much time and
study to American Indian archaeology
The authenticity of the collection is
vouched for by Major Powell, Director of
the United States Bureau of Ethnology.
The Chinese and Japanse collection, re-
Gently added TO the museum, has been
temporarily placed in room No. y. 1t COM
prises bronzes, implements of warfare.
china, lacquer, household goods, embroid-
cries, etc, etc. All of the bronzes are of
the most appreciated types of ancient East
ern art, many of them are hundreds of
years old. Some stand over three feet in
hight, and the whole form most unique
and valuable collection. Among the house
hold goods, are clocks, chairs, lamps,
gongs, Il number of musical instruments,
and magnificent cedar double bed
stead. The latter was on exhibition at the
Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia,
where Governor Stanford purchased it. 1t
is the work of years of patient hand-abor,
and is one mass of grotesque carving.
To these articles additions are being con-
stantly made, and the Eastern collection is
destined TO be one of the most interesting
features OF this Western Museum.
II. c. NASH.